Apparatuses, systems and methods for holding portable devices or instruments

ABSTRACT

A holder apparatus for a portable device including a first surface with a first area with at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized polarity, and a second surface with a first area of at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one other magnetized area with a second polarity. The first surface is removably attached to one or more portable devices and/or instruments. The magnetic polarities of the first surface and the magnetic polarities of the second surface are aligned with their corresponding opposite magnetic poles so that said one or more attached portable devices are orientated in a specific direction relative to the first surface and/or the second surface, with either or both of the surfaces attached to one or more substrates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/884,218, filed Jan. 09, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

None.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter relate to apparatuses, systems and methods for holding portable devices and/or instruments, for example cases and holsters for portable music playing devices.

A magnet is an object that has a magnetic field. It can be in the form of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Permanent magnets do not rely upon outside forces to generate their field while electromagnets rely upon electric current to generate a magnetic field so that when an current increases, so does the field.

Magnets are attracted to, or repelled by, other materials. A material that is strongly attracted to a magnet is said to have a high permeability. Examples of materials with very high permeability include iron and steel. All magnets have at least two poles, one of which is a north pole and one a south pole.

Neodymium magnets or NIB magnets also known in the prior art as rare-earth magnets or “neo” magnets are low cost, powerful magnets made of a combination of neodymium, iron, and boron—Nd2Fe14B. These magnets are very strong in comparison to their mass so they can be used to hold much larger items in place. Another type of rare earth magnet is a Samarium-cobalt magnets (SmCo5) magnet, composed of samarium and cobalt.

Other types of magnets include plastic magnets which are non-metallic magnets made from the polymer PANiCNQ, which is a combination of emeraldine-based polyaniline (PANi) and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). This type of magnet is a conductive polymer.

The prior art describes many known uses of magnets used in conjunction with holding devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,503 to Cohen describes a portable magnetic object holder having a mounting plate embedded with at least one magnet for holding a magnetic object, such as a tool or instrument, on one surface of the mounting plate. A strap is attached to the mounting plate for mounting the mounting plate to a user or to an object.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include apparatuses, systems and methods for holding portable electronic devices in a direction, orientation or position. One embodiment includes a holder apparatus for a portable device including a first surface with a first area with at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized polarity, and a second surface with a first area of at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one other magnetized area with a second polarity. The first surface is removably attached to one or more portable devices and/or instruments. The magnetic polarities of the first surface and the magnetic polarities of the second surface are aligned with their corresponding opposite magnetic poles so that said one or more attached portable devices are orientated in a specific direction relative to the first surface and/or the second surface, with either or both of the surfaces attached to one or more substrates. The second surface can be underneath or embedded within another material such as an article of clothing.

Additionally, other embodiments include additional magnets or magnetized areas having additional North Pole/South Pole interactions between the first and the second surfaces and these additional interactions may be used to aid in the stabilization of the apparatus in an orientation. Other embodiments of the claimed subject matter include apparatuses, systems and methods for holding other products such as portable music players, transmitters, microphones, radios, cell phones, instruments, holsters, other types of holders, cases, lap-top computers, and the like. Embodiments also include one or more protective cases that can form-fit over the surface of a portable device or they may be used in a loose fit fashion over the surface of the portable device being held.

Another embodiment of the holder apparatus for a portable device includes a substrate made up of one or more of the following group: portable electronic devices such as portable computers, portable music players, transmitters, microphones, radios, cell phones, instruments, body parts such as an arm or an ear, hats, controllers for gaming consoles, shoes, shoelaces, clothing, cases, glasses, earpieces, bags, purses, holsters, jewelry, furnishings or a portion thereof such as an arm of a chair, fixtures such as a lamp, automotive and household accessories such as disposal bags, and fasteners.

For instance the folder apparatus can be used as an earpiece with an ear as the substrate or a shoe with a foot as a substrate. Yet another embodiment includes the first surface being integrated within the substrate, another has the second surface integrated within the substrate, and another has the first surface and the second surface both integrated within said substrate such as when different parts of the same substrate are used for the first surface and the second surface. Another embodiment includes the first surface enclosing a portion of the surface of the portable device, and another includes the first surface and the second surface enclosing a portion of the substrate. Other embodiments include a first surface and a second surface which enclose all of or a portion of the substrate and others include one or more attached portable devices each of which can be orientated in more than one specific direction relative to the first surface and the second surface.

Another embodiment of the holder apparatus for a portable device has a third surface with a first area of at least one magnetized area with a first polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized area with a second polarity. The third surface may be independently oriented relative to said first surface, said second surface and/or said substrate. Embodiments may be used to hold any suitable portable device, for example: keys, pens, rulers, batteries, fishing lures, needles, coins, paper clips, hair clips, pins, watercolor tubes, oil-color tubes, bullets, gliders, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, fasteners, hinges, flash lights, electrical drills, portable dryers, staples, cell-phones, PDAs, shoelaces, shoe fasteners and calculators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of an embodiment of the claimed subject matter as mounted on a substrate or second surface such as an article of clothing worn by a person;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of an embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the components of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a first surface of the underside of another embodiment of the claimed subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter include holders and holding apparatuses that hold one or more portable devices or instruments in a fixed orientation relative to the substrate on which the item or items are being held. These embodiments provide advantages over carrying cases and other holders/cases found in the prior art because they allow the item or items to be held in place upon a specific substrate in one or more specific orientations so that the user can access the item or items with greater ease.

Several embodiments include a first surface and a second surface that are used to hold the portable device and/or instrument in a specific orientation with one of the surfaces being attached to at least one substrate. The first and/or second surfaces may be constructed of lightweight plastic, polymer and/or elastomeric materials, or any other suitable material. The first and second surfaces of the apparatus may also include a separate or integrated holder for the magnetized areas or magnets and they may also be constructed of a rigid material such as an aluminum metal or any other suitable rigid or semi rigid material.

Referring now to the drawings, which are to be read in conjunction with this specification, FIGS. 1 through 10 illustrate aspects of embodiments of the claimed subject matter. With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals signify like elements throughout the figures, the following reference numerals and corresponding elements are used:

10 the holder apparatus;

12 the first surface

14 the magnetic area with a north pole;

16 the magnetic area with a south pole;

18 the portable electronic device;

20 the front cover of apparatus;

22 the second surface; and

24 the substrate.

Embodiment 10 can be used as a case for a portable electronic device such as a portable media player. It includes a first surface 12 having a first magnet 14 with a north pole facing outwards or away from the surface 12 and a second area of the surface 12 having a second magnet 16 with a south pole facing outwards. Magnets used with the embodiments may be a magnetic strip, a magnetic sphere, a flat magnet disc or any other suitable type of magnet. The magnets may also be integrated into the surfaces of the embodiment and/or the substrates used within or in conjunction with the embodiments.

In this embodiment, the second surface 22 to which the first surface 12 is magnetically attached has an additional area with a third magnet, this third magnet having a south pole facing outwards. The second surface 22 also includes another area or section having a fourth magnet with a north pole facing outwards. By using the complementary magnetic interactions between the magnetized areas within or on the first surface 12 and within or on the second surface 22, the first surface 12 enclosing or removably attached to the portable device or instrument can be directionally aligned with the second surface 22 and the substrate 24 which is attached to surface 22. Substrate 24 may be permanently attached to surface 22, ir may be removably attached to surface 22, or it may be integrated into surface 22. In this embodiment, the first and third magnets along with the second and fourth magnets hold with magnetic interaction the portable device in a specific orientation relative to the substrate 24 and/or surface 22. In embodiments wherein the second surface 22 is integrated with substrate 24, surface 22 can embedded within another material such as an article of clothing so that the embodiment 10 may be worn on the exterior of the article of clothing. Surface 22 of embodiment 10 may also be placed underneath an article of clothing and it may also be secured to the article of clothing, permanently or removably.

In other embodiments, additional magnets or magnetized strips with north pole/south pole interaction placed within or along the first and second surfaces 12 and 22 may be used to hold or stabilize the holder in place and in one or more orientations. Additional surfaces with one or more magnetized areas which offer complementary magnetic attraction with surfaces 12 and/or surface 22 may also be used to offer the user a greater selection of orientations of the personal portable device.

With the use of multiple magnetic areas, the magnetic areas can be placed so that there is more than one possible orientation allowing the user to have a choice between two or more specific orientations. Yet other embodiments, may allow the user to remove and replace the magnets so that the one or more orientations are user selectable by the placement of the magnetic areas on the first surface 12 and the second surface 22. Similarly, the substrate 22 may be attached in various orientations, either fixed or changeable by the user, so that the user can select the orientation of the portable device and/or instrument being held in place by apparatus 10. Other embodiments of the inventive subject matter include apparatuses, systems and methods for holding other products such as portable music players, transmitters, microphones, radios, cell phones, instruments, holsters, other types of holders, cases, lap-top computers, and the like. Embodiments also include one or more protective cases that can form-fit or be loose fit over the surface of the portable device being held.

The dimensions and strength of magnets may be modified as necessary so that various objects may be held in place and in a specific orientation or direction. The magnets can be made from any notable material such as rare earth magnets.

The first surface 12 of the embodiment 10 and/or the second surface may be constructed out of any suitable material or the surface may be part of an existing material such as an article of clothing. Materials include elastic material, such as rubber or plastic or polyethylene. Disks 14 and/or 16 may also be embedded within other materials that provide the functionality and support of an independent surface. For example, the second surface to which the first surface is magnetically affixed may be an article of clothing such as pants or a shirt with two or more magnets aligned to match the opposing magnets in the first surface.

Tools that may be held include one or more pairs of scissors, saws, hammers, wrenches, screw drivers and other mechanical parts, tools or components that may be used to perform mechanical work. Further examples of instruments, devices or hardware which could be positioned within embodiments of the claimed subject matter include keys, pens, rulers, batteries, fishing lures, needles, coins, paper clips, hair clips, pins, watercolor tubes, oil-color tubes, bullets, gliders, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, fasteners, hinges, flash lights, electrical drills, portable dryers, staples, cell-phones, PDAs, calculators, shoelaces, shoe fasteners or any other suitable article, instrument or device.

The foregoing described embodiments of the claimed subject matter are provided as illustrations and descriptions only, and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to the specific embodiments described. In particular, it is contemplated that functional implementations of the claimed subject matter include a wide array of equivalent materials which, along with the described embodiments described herein, may be implemented in any number of manners apparently to one skilled in the art Examples of alternative embodiments include embodiments which use fixed or ridged substrates, substrates that are magnetized with electromagnets and/or substrates with magnets embedded within them or substrates with magnetic properties. Other embodiments may also include one or more additional features such as straps, pockets, and/or cords. As such, these and other numerous embodiments are possible in light of above teachings and the detailed description of the multiple embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter in any way. 

1. A holder apparatus for a portable device comprising: a first surface with a first area with at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized polarity; and a second surface with a first area of at least one magnetized area with a first polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized area with a second polarity; wherein said first surface is removably attached to one or more portable devices; and wherein said magnetic polarities of said first surface and said magnetic polarities of said second surface are aligned with their corresponding magnetic poles so that said one or more attached portable devices are orientated in a specific direction relative to said first surface and said second surface and wherein said second surface is attached to at least one substrate.
 2. The holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is selected from the one or more of the following group: portable electronic devices such as portable computers, portable music players, transmitters, microphones, radios, cell phones, instruments, body parts such as an arm or an ear, hats, controllers for gaming consoles, shoes, shoelaces, clothing, cases, glasses, earpieces, bags, purses, holsters, jewelry, furnishings or a portion thereof such as an arm of a chair, fixtures such as a lamp, automotive and household accessories such as disposal bags, and fasteners.
 3. The holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said first surface is integrated within said substrate.
 4. The holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said second surface is integrated within said substrate.
 5. The holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said first surface and said second surface is integrated within said substrate.
 6. A holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said first surface encloses a portion of the surface of said portable device.
 7. A holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said first surface and said second surface enclose said substrate.
 8. A holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein said one or more attached portable devices can be orientated in more than one specific direction relative to said first surface and said second surface.
 9. A holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 further comprising a third surface with a first area of at least one magnetized area with a first polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized area with a second polarity wherein said third surface may be independently oriented relative to said first surface, said second surface or said substrate.
 10. A holder apparatus for a portable device of claim 1 wherein the portable device is one or more items selected from the following group: keys, pens, rulers, batteries, fishing lures, needles, coins, paper clips, hair clips, pins, watercolor tubes, oil-color tubes, bullets, gliders, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, fasteners, hinges, flash lights, electrical drills, portable dryers, staples, cell-phones, PDAs, shoelaces, shoe fasteners and calculators.
 11. A method of using a holder apparatus to hold a portable device in a specific orientation relative to the user comprising the steps of: placing said portable device in said holder apparatus comprised of a first surface with a first area with at least one magnetized polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized polarity; and a second surface with a first area of at least one magnetized area with a first polarity and a second area with at least one magnetized area with a second polarity; wherein said first surface is removably attached to one or more portable devices; and wherein said magnetic polarities of said first surface and said magnetic polarities of said second surface are aligned with their corresponding magnetic poles so that said one or more attached portable devices are orientated in a specific direction relative to said first surface and said second surface and wherein said second surface is attached to at least one substrate located on said user; and securing said portable device in said holder apparatus. 